TAME

Last updated
TAME
Logo of TAME.png
IATA ICAO Call sign
EQTAETAME
FoundedDecember 17, 1962
Ceased operationsMay 19, 2020
Hubs Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Focus cities José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Frequent-flyer program TAME Millas
Subsidiaries
  • TAME Amazonia
  • TAME Xpress
Fleet size5
Destinations16
Parent company Ecuadorian Government
Headquarters Quito, Ecuador
Key peopleFernando Guerrero (CEO)
Website www.tame.com.ec

TAME or TAME EP Linea Aerea del Ecuador was an airline founded in Ecuador in 1962. TAME (pronounced "tah-meh") was the flag carrier and the largest airline of Ecuador. TAME headquarters were in Quito, Pichincha Province and the main hub was Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. The airline was formed by the Air Force of Ecuador. In 2011, it became a commercial entity and provided domestic, international and charter flights. On May 20, 2020, the Ecuadorean government decided to cease all operations and liquidate the airline.[ citation needed ]

Contents

History

TAME Douglas DC-6B at Miami in 1972 Douglas DC-6B FAE43266 TAM Ecuador MIA 170472 edited-2.jpg
TAME Douglas DC-6B at Miami in 1972
TAME Airbus A320 with old livery at Quito in 2010 TAME Airbus A320 Ramirez.jpg
TAME Airbus A320 with old livery at Quito in 2010

Early years

The military airline was founded on December 17, 1962, by Luis A. Ortega under Guillermo Freile Posso, both colonels. It was named Transportes Aéreos Militares Ecuatorianos (TAME). At the time, the Air Force required an income source; governmental transport services to remote and difficult to reach parts of Ecuador; and an entity to train pilots. The airline gradually increased in size infrastructure and number of services.

On December 4, 1962, Luis A. Ortega, Hector Granja, Eduardo Sandoval, Alfredo Barreiro, Oswaldo Lara, Julio Espinosa, Teodoro Malo and Jose Montesinos made inaugural flights in the Douglas C-47. The pilots held the rank of major and noncommissioned officers worked as flight attendants. The first commercial flight was made by Teodoro Malo on a route from Quito, Esmeraldas, Bahía, Manta, Guayaquil, Cuenca and back to Quito. Initially, TAME made domestic flights using C-47 planes. Gradually, over the next two years, DC-3 and DC-6 planes were added and then in 1970, two HS-748 Avro were acquired.

On April 30, 1966, TAME began regular international flights to Havana, Panama and Santiago de Chile.

As its business grew, TAME purchased four Lockheed L-188 Electras from Ecuatoriana de Aviación. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, TAME added three Boeing 727-100s. During the mid-1980s and up until 1992, Tame purchased four Boeing 727-200s. In 1986, three Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000s were added. In December 1998, TAME rented a Boeing 757-200.

In December 1992, the governments of Ecuador and Colombia signed the "Frontier Integration Agreement" establishing a Quito, Esmeraldas (Tachina), Cali, Esmeraldas (Tachina), Quito route. In 1995, TAME offered flights from Quito to Bogotá for Air France passengers.

Development during the 2000s

In 2000, TAME began a long process of fleet renewal beginning with the renting of two Airbus A320s. These planes were delivered at the European Corporation Assemble factory, Toulouse and were renewed in 2008. Also in 2000, the Boeing 727s were retired. TAME found the Embraer 170/190s suited the airline's needs. Over the next two years, two models of the 170 series and one of the 190 series were obtained. On August 25, 2008, one Airbus A319 was obtained and soon after the two Airbus A320s were replaced, completing the fleet renewal.

In 2011, Tame changed its legal status to a state-owned company, no longer under the administration of the Ecuadorian Air Force.

In 2013, TAME incorporated its first and only Airbus A330-200, formerly of Dubai’s Emirates, to cover flights to New York City. In addition, 3 Quest Kodiaks were incorporated for its subsidiary TAME Amazonía for the routes in the country's Amazon.

On May 19, 2020, the Ecuadorean government decided to liquidate the airline and ceased all operations. The airline, which had been struggling for several years, claimed that its difficulties were compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TAME logo, 1962 to 2009 TAME Linea Aerea del Ecuador logo (1962 - 2009).svg
TAME logo, 1962 to 2009

TAME's colours were blue, light blue, and gold as a decorative element. The original logo, designed by Luis A. Ortega symbolized the flight of a bird with a sun in the background. In 2009, the airline was rebranded with a new logo and colour palette. [1]

Destinations

TAME's hub was in Quito at Mariscal Sucre International Airport. TAME flew internationally to Cali in Colombia as well as Fort Lauderdale and New York in the United States. The main destinations in Ecuador were Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and Esmeraldas.

Codeshare agreements

In 1997, TAME extended its international schedule through an agreement with EVA Air of Taiwan. On December 1, 2010, a codeshare agreement was made with Copa Airlines. [2] [3]

Fleet

Final fleet

TAME Airbus A320-200 wearing the airline's last color scheme. TAME Airbus A320 (HC-COE) at Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport.jpg
TAME Airbus A320-200 wearing the airline's last color scheme.

As of March 2020, the TAME fleet comprised the following aircraft: [4]

TAME fleet
AircraftIn
service
OrdersPassengersNotes
JYTotal
Airbus A319-100 110135145
Airbus A320-200 112150162
ATR 42-500 35050
Total5

Historical fleet

Since its foundation, the airline's fleet has grown with the following aircraft: [5]

TAME historical fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A330-200 120132019Former Emirates aircraft
Beechcraft 200 119801980
Boeing 727-100 319842006One crashed as Flight 120
Boeing 727-200 619902008One crashed as Flight 422
Boeing 737-200 119811983 Written off
Boeing 757-200 119991999Leased from TAESA
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo 219761990
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 619752011
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 1119681982
Douglas DC-3 11969Un­known
Douglas DC-6B 419631974
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia 220072016Leased from SAEREO
Operated by TAME Xpress
Embraer 170LR 220062015
Embraer 190AR 520062019
Fokker F-28 Mk 4000 319852009
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 519702009
Lockheed L-188 Electra 619741989Two used for spare parts
Quest Kodiak 100 320132020Leased from Air Amazonia
Operated by TAME Amazonía

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

  1. Roll out: TAME Nuevo avion Nueva imagen Accessed September 3, 2009.
  2. TAME enters the Panamanian market El Universo company website. November 10, 2010. Accessed December 22, 2010. (In Spanish)
  3. TAME enters the Panamanian market El Universo company website. November 10, 2010. Accessed December 22, 2010 (in English)
  4. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 13.
  5. "TAME fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  6. Hijacking description Aviation Safety Network. Accessed February 14, 2011.
  7. Hijacking description Aviation Safety Network. Accessed February 14, 2011.

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